Though Nintendo has never quite been able to match the magic of Super Mario RPG (its one and only collaboration with Final Fantasy makers SquareEnix), there’s a couple of games that come close, in my opinion. Paper Mario, for the N64, is one of them.
Paper Mario is memorable and eminently replayable for its many side quests and fun excursions, much like Super Mario RPG. But it’s also got its own distinctive Nintendo flair! Read on for a little reminiscing and description of this awesome game.
In Paper Mario, Bowser steals a magic wand called the Star Rod from the seven benevolent Star Spirits, who serve as the world’s spiritual leaders. He then proceeds to imprison said Star Spirits, and begins to run amok with his newfound power, eventually lifting Peach’s castle sky-high, and even defeating Mario with the aid of the Star Rod. Of course, Mario has to rescue the Star Spirits and kick major butt along the way. 🙂
This video shows the opening scenes and the first few challenges/puzzles of the game, set in Goomba Village. After Mario’s disastrous conflict with the new and improved Bowser, he is thrown from Peach’s castle and is discovered some time later by a little girl Goomba named Goombaria.
From Goomba Village, you eventually move on to Toad Town, and are faced with the wreckage at the spot where Peach’s castle was torn up from the ground. (Your first big boss battle, with the Goomba King, is covered in this video as well.)
In Paper Mario, Mario receives the aid of several individuals he meets in his journey to rescue the Star Spirits. Each one of them can serve as a Partner in battle, helping to defeat enemies; each one also has a special ability that can be used outside combat to help Mario.
Partners in the Game
– Goombario (gives you enemy information, including Hit Points)
– Kooper (can use his shell to attack enemies at range or retrieve items from a little distance away)
– Bombette (can bomb cracked walls or ambush-bomb enemies)
– Parakarry (can carry Mario for a short distance across gaps)
– Lady Bow (can hide Mario from enemies)
– Watt (can light up dark places and display hidden ? blocks)
– Sushie (can help Mario get across water)
– Lakilester (can give Mario faster and longer flight across obstacles)
Each Partner is very, very useful–no duds here!
Peach’s Greater Role in This Game
One of my favorite bits about this game is that Peach is actually given more of a personality, and given meaningful tasks to do within the game. She’s no longer just a victim; she’s proven to be braver and more resourceful than anyone ever figured on.
In between the Mario-centric “chapters” of the game, you get to play as Peach, doing more stealth/spy missions to help Mario’s quest. Her tasks progress in difficulty as the game goes along.
One of the hardest Peach missions in the game is baking a cake for Gourmet Guy. Why do I call it the hardest mission? Because just like real baking, I stink at creating virtual cakes, too, apparently! LOL! This mission requires excellent timing to complete (I used a stopwatch and it still took several tries); however, the payoff is worth it.
Of course, if you don’t care about the payoff, you can always have Peach cook a disgusting cake instead…this one involves using Cleanser and Water as ingredients. Serves that picky Gourmet Guy right, I think. xD
A Few Game Secrets and Side Quests
Paper Mario is littered (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun) with secrets and side quests. For instance:
- 8-bit Mario in Lady Bow’s Mansion
- Luigi’s diary
- hidden 8-bit music if you wait long enough on chapter screens
- speeding-up and slowing-down music box in Lady Bow’s Mansion
“Empty” Box Trick in Dry Dry Desert: You get a Mushroom, Super Shroom and an Ultra Shroom by whacking this box with your Hammer several times.
Anti Guy is a nonessential boss in the Toy Box levels, and is very difficult to defeat if you’re not careful! (I found that using Lady Bow to hide Mario from Anti Guy’s super-strong attacks is very useful; otherwise, you just have to outlast him in Hit Points.)
There are also some secrets and side quests within the towns you visit:
- The sorceress/seer Merlee in the back alleys of Dry Dry Outpost; she can give you a spell to help you in battle
- You can get a Goomnut item from the big tree in Goomba Village
- You can help an old Koopa in Koopa Village by running some errands for him; each one gets you a Star Piece
- You can listen to the radio in the blue-shell house in Koopa Village
- Don’t forget to climb the tree in Yoshi Village!
This video gives you the location of 3 secret Badges; Badges can be equipped to Mario to give him different attacks, better Hit Points and Flower Points, resistance to certain types of damage, and lots of other benefits.
If you visit Merluvlee’s house near Shooting Star Summit, she can tell a “fortune” about Star Pieces nearby. Her brother Merlow, who lives upstairs, sells Badges in exchange for Star Pieces. (Also, the purple-and-gold chest in the far left of the first floor is linked to an identical chest in Peach’s castle–Peach can pass items, like hidden Badges, to Mario in this way.
Talk to Merlon (in Toad Town, in the house with the spinning roof) whenever you’re lost about something. He also helps advance the plot otherwise, but his fortunes will help you get un-stuck.
One of my favorite side quests involves a Pop Diva who used to sing at Club 64 in Toad Town (near the port). Unfortunately, all the unrest in Toad Town has grieved her so much that she cannot sing; she needs a truly inspiring song to make her sing again. This video shows you how to help her!
Final Battle with Bowser
The final battle is divided into 2 parts; this video covers the first part, which is fairly scripted for you. Mario fights Bowser, and Peach fights Kammy Koopa (the real brains behind it all). Good plot development ensues, and because of Peach’s desperate wish, Mario gets a new attack–Peach Beam!
Once Mario gets Peach Beam, the second half of Bowser’s battle commences–and the game has changed. Peach Beam shatters Bowser’s Star Rod power temporarily, enabling him to be damaged, which means that finally, Mario’s attacks can get somewhere!
To Play Paper Mario
This game is available through the Wii’s Virtual Console, and there are probably some N64 cartridges of this still floating around out there, too. Definitely check into it–it’s a great story and well worth a playthrough (or 5)!